2007 7132

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Students

G/EB

SUBJECT: NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS

The Building Principal may admit a non-resident student to Groton Central School after the Principal and/or Director of Special Education has received a formal request from the student's parent or guardian. The Principal and/or Director of Special Education will decide if admitting the student will be in the best interest of all concerned. Decisions by the Principal and/or Director of Special Education may be appealed to the Superintendent and the Board of Education.

It is understood that the non-resident students will abide by the rules and regulations established by the Board of Education. The Principal has the right to dismiss the student from Groton Central School for any infraction. Each non-resident student and parent must sign the Non-Resident Student Agreement (attached).

The Superintendent and Board of Education will be kept informed of all decisions about non-resident students.

The following general conditions for acceptance will be met when considering admittance:

a) There is sufficient space to accommodate the non-resident student;

b) No increase in the size of faculty or staff will be necessary;

c) Admittance will not result in the establishment of a new section;

d) Parents/guardians must work out transfer conditions with the home school district or provide their own transportation;

e) All rules and regulations in effect for district students will be applicable to non-district students;

f) Tuition may be charged to families of non-resident students in accordance with formulas approved by the State Education Department.

Final decisions regarding the acceptance of non-resident students rest with the Board of Education.

Tuition-Paying Students

Future Students

The children of families who have signed a contract to buy or build a residence in the School District may be enrolled for the semester in which they expect to become residents. Non-resident tuition shall be charged, payable in advance, with an adjustment to be made when the family becomes a resident in the District.

(Continued)

2007 7132

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Students

G/EB

SUBJECT: NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS (Cont'd.)

Foreign Exchange Students

Students from other nations who are living with district residents may be enrolled at the discretion of the District. The District will only consider accepting international students recommended and authorized by the Rotary Exchange Program. No more than two students will be accepted for any school year. Students must enroll at the beginning of the year. The administration is authorized to file with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security the forms necessary for the monitoring of non-immigrant foreign students during the course of their stay in the District in accordance with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Former Residents

a. Students whose parents/legal guardians move out of the District during the school year who opt to keep their child(ren) in the District until the end of that school year shall be obligated to pay pro-rated tuition for the remainder of that school year.

b. A student who moves from the District after completion of the first semester of the year preceding his/her anticipated graduation year may be given permission to remain in the Groton School District until graduation without tuition.

Proof of Residency

Such documentation or sworn proof as shall be required by the administration or Board of Education must be furnished prior to the admission of any child residing in the District with a person not his parent or who is the child of a non-resident. The admission of homeless children and youth will be in accordance with law.

Reservation of Claims

Should a material misstatement of fact be made and relied upon by any administrator or the Board of Education in admitting a non-resident student without tuition, the Board shall be entitled to recover the cost of instruction for the time the student was not authorized to attend a school in the District from the person having made the misstatement or from a person in parental relation to the student.

Tuition Fees

Where applicable, tuition fees are computed according to a formula established by the Commissioner of Education.

Tuition rates shall be set annually by the Board of Education prior to each school year. The tuition rate shall be based on the State Education Department Non-resident Tuition Report using the prior year's State aid calculation, beginning with the 2003-04 school year.

Exception to Tuition Fees (Grandfather Clause)

Tuition for the 2003-04 school year for non-resident students enrolled at Groton Central School was set at $275.00 per student per year for grades K-5, and $550.00 per student per year for grades 6-12. This base rate for these students shall increase by 10% each subsequent school year until either the student leaves the District or the tuition rate matches the rate set by the Board of Education for that year. Siblings of these currently enrolled students who subsequently enter kindergarten will be charged the above rate.

(Continued)

2007 7132

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Students

G/EB

SUBJECT: NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS (Cont'd.)

Payment

One half of the annual tuition is due and must be paid before the start of the first semester. The balance must be paid before the start of the second semester.

Monthly payments will be accepted for those students whose parents/legal guardians have established a record of consistent and prompt monthly payments in the past.

Payment for students of Groton Central School employees may be made through payroll deduction.

Refunds will be given if the student voluntarily withdraws in the first month of the semester of enrollment. No refund will be given if a student is removed for disciplinary reasons, at any time after the school year begins.

Non-payment of tuition will result in the student(s) being denied entry to school.

Legal Residence

Parents who maintain more than one (1) residence, but whose legal residence for the purposes of voting or filing income tax is within the District, are eligible to send their children to District schools. However, school tax payments of non-residents who own assessable property in the District will be deducted from any tuition charges levied against such non-resident.

Transportation

It is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to transport their non-resident child to school.

Education Law Sections 1709(13), 2045 and 3202

8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)

Section 174.2

8 United States Code (USC) Chapter 12

NOTE: Refer also to Policy #7131 -- Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Adoption Date: March 10, 2008

GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL

NON-RESIDENT STUDENT AGREEMENT

In consideration of my admission as a non-resident student for the school year_____________, the following assurances are given:

_____ I have read the Code of Conduct, and I am familiar with its contents;

_____ I will comply with the Code of Conduct, and if I do not do so, I understand that my non-

resident student status may be revoked by the Building Principal or Director of Special

Education after notification to me of my infraction and an opportunity to be heard;

_____ I will maintain a rate of school/class attendance of 95%, and if I do not do so, I understand

my non-resident student status may be revoked by the Building Principal after notification to me of my infraction and an opportunity to be heard;

_____ I understand that if the required tuition is not paid when due, my non-resident student status

may be terminated by the Building Principal.

Date: Signature: _____________________________

Parent Signature (Students Grades K-5): ____________________________________

The undersigned agrees with the tuition charge stated below:

We also understand that if payment is not made, the Superintendent may terminate the non-resident student status of ______________________, and the school district may take appropriate action to collect such sum.

If the district terminates my child’s non-resident status because of failure to comply with the Code of Conduct, we understand that full tuition will not be refunded.

We, the undersigned, hereby agree to provide transportation to and from school to the applicable school building.

Dated: _______________________ Parent/Guardian: _____________________________